CALUMET CITY | More than 90 pounds of pasta were expected to be served to an estimated crowd of 500 people at the annual St. Joseph Table, or Tavola, held Sunday at St. Victor's Catholic Church.

The celebration is held in advance of the March 19 feast day of St. Joseph. Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) Branch 195, based out of St. Victor's, began hosting the Tavola shortly after the branch was founded in 1965.

Tickets for the luncheon that also included Italian sausage and meatballs sold for $12, as a way to raise money for charitable causes supported by the ICF.

The tradition of the Tavola is said to date back to Sicily during the Middle Ages, when a lack of rain lead to famine. After prayers of petition to their patron St. Joseph were answered, a feast was held in his honor.

Janet Oberman is an ICF member and has been a parishioner at St. Victor's since 1970. She said the Tavola is an excellent way to welcome strangers to the parish and reconnect with familiar faces.

"It's like everyone coming home," Oberman said. "Old parishioners come back. It's just a wonderful gathering."

Tony DeFilippo, 17, has participated in the Tavola since the days he played the part of the baby Jesus in the Mass after the luncheon. DeFilippo was in charge of making coffee Sunday, and he looks forward to the day that he will help the older men prepare the food in the kitchen.

"It's a way for me to connect with my Italian heritage," he said.

DeFilippo said Italians like to celebrate with food, and the meatballs are the highlight of the Tavola.

"That's actually what we're going to be running short on because everyone likes the meatballs," he said.

Although Michelle Benson moved from Calumet City to Tinley Park, she still attends the Tavola with her grandparents each year. She said it is an important tradition to continue to give people a reason to return to the city and to maintain a "sense of community."

"This town's changing so much," Benson said.